Shoe stretching apparatus with adjustable toe and heel pieces



April 23, 1957 w. H. DOHERTY 2,789,294

SHOE STRETCHING APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE Toa AND HEEL PIECES Filed June 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l xxx ll llll nux 4 IE1s/TOR. 577 i4 f5 j 5 557 wnLLrAM MDOHERTY pnl 23, V1957 w. H. DOHERTY 2,789,294

SHOE STRETCHING APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOE AND HEEL PIECES Filed June 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. DOH ERTY Aprll 23, 1957 w H, DOHERTY 2,789,294

SHOE STRETCHING APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOE AND HEEL PIECES Filed June 28. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. DOHERTY F/G. f2. Q www g Z bw United States Patent SHE STRETCHIN G APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOE AND HEEL PIECES William H. Doherty, Rego Park, N. Y.

Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,512

8 Claims. (Cl. 12-116.2)

This invention relates to shoe shaping devices employed in manufacturing and repairing footwear and relates particularly to combination lasts in which the relation of the front or sole portion to the rear or heel portion may be suitably varied in accordance with the shoe to be shaped.

In order to properly iit footwear, consideration must be given not only to the size of the front portion of the shoe but also the heel size and, more particularly, to the relationship between the toe and heel portions of the shoe. Thus, previous lasts and trees have not made provision for interchanging various heel pieces with a single toe piece and vice versa. Furthermore, it has not been possible to vary the angle of the heel piece with respect to the toe piece with the lasts formerly employed in shoe manufacturing and repm'ring.

In addition, it is desirable for a single last or tree to be usable in various sized shoes to eect economies resulting from the stocking of fewer lasts. However, the adjustable toe pieces of lasts known in the art are not only laterally movable but also permit an undesired vertical dispiacement therebetween. Furthermore, the known lasts permit only a limited adjustment between the toe and heel pieces.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe shaping device including toe and heel pieces adjustably mounted on a rod and constructed to permit the angular relation between at least a portion of the heel piece and the rod to be varied.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe shaping device including toe and heel pieces adjustably mounted on a rod, the toe piece consisting of a pair of laterally movable portions having cooperating surfaces precluding relative vertical displacement therebetween.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shoe shaping device of the above character having a sole former coupled to the toe and heel pieces.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shoe shaping device of the above character in which a tongue fastened to the sole former is adjustably engaged by the heel piece.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a toe piece including two laterally movable portions having cooperating surfaces preventing vertical displacement therebetween.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a heel piece adapted to be mounted on a rod coupled to a toe piece and having at least a portion thereof angularly adjustable with respect to the rod.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a combination last constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the last being shown in a shoe illustrated in section;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the combination last illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the combination last taken on the view line 3-3 in Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the combination last Patented Apr. 23, 1957 taken on the view line 4--4 in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4A is a side elevation of the heel piece shownk in Figure l; Y

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modified heel piece formed in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a transverse section of the heel piece shown in Figure 5 taken on Ythe view line 6-6 looking in the direction of the arrows; y

Figure 7 is arear elevation of afurther modilied heel prece;

Figure 8 is a transverse section of the modified form ot' heel piece illustrated in Figure 7 taken on the view line 8 8 looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Figure 8A is a fragmentary view of a modified structure for coupling a toe piece to the heel in Figures 7 and 8; Y

Figure 9 is a bottom vieweof a modied shoe shaping tongue that may be employed in a combination last con-l structed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to an illustrative embodiment of the invention in greater detail with particular reference to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, a shoe upper 10 is shownl diagrammatically joined to an outer sole and heel 11 and encloses a combination last formed in accordance with the present invention. The toe piece of theV last is formed from two side portions 12 and'13 which when abutted along their straight edges 14 and 15, respectively, provide V,a piece generally having the contours of the forward portion of a foot. The portion 12 is preferably formed .with a slightly convex bottom and is tapered along its outerside towards the toe of the shoe. At approximately the point where the instep starts rising, a segment 16 provides the contoursv of a normal instep. The segment 16 is formed to extend laterally over the other toe portion 13 as may be clearly seen in Figure 3 for the reasons set forth hereinafter.

The portion 13 is generally shaped like the portion 12V but instead of being provided with an upwardly extending segment such as the segment 16 on the portion 12, a

transversely at surface 17 is formed under the segment 16 and curves upwardly from the central part of the portion 13 to the rear thereof. A at edge surface 18 formed on the underside of the segment 16 slidably cooperates with the surface 17.

Triangularly shaped laterally extending recesses 19 and 20 are centrally formed within the toe portions 12 and 13, respectively, to provide a somewhat triangularly shaped cavity when the portions 12 and 13 abut alongY their edges 14 and 15.

Transversely extending holes 21 and 2,2 are formed in the front and rear sections of the portion v12, respectively, and receive a pin 23 and resilient element 24, respectively, which are preferably secured therein in any convenient manner. It will be noted that the holes 21 and 22 do not extend through the portion 12. Passageways 25 and 26 extending transversely through the portion 13 at the front and rear thereof, respectively, are positioned to cooperate with the pin 23 and the resilient member 24 extending from the portion 12. The resilient element 24 may be formed from an elastic material such as rubber and secured in the opening 26 in any desired manner in order lto normally urge the portions 12 and 13 together. However, it may also be desirable to provide a coil spring piece illustratedv as the element 24 to' bias the portions 12 and 13 from each other. A1ternatively,'a pin such as the pin 23 may be employed in the passageways 22 and 26.

The passageway25 is preferably of a large enough diameter to permit the portion 13 to slide' laterally on the pin 23. During such lateraldisplacement, the surface 18 ofthe segment 16 will' be in engagement with and slide transversely on the surface 17 found on the portion 13. The purpose of these surfaces is to preventV any substantial vertical displacement of the portion 12 downwardly and the portion 13 upwardly while permitting them to be laterally'displaced with respect to eachA other.

Before assembling the portions 12' andV 13 of they toe piece of the last, a iat'wedge 27 is inserted in the cavity formed by the recesses 19 and 20, the Wedge 27 being formed with a vertical slot 28 at the rear thereof. A rod 29 is milled tlat on both' sides of one end thereof to form a tlat plate 30' for' insertion in theA slot 28. A pin 31 extends' through holes 32 and 33 in the wedge 27 on both sides of the slot 28 and through an opening 34 in the at section 30. Accordingly, it will be evident that the wedge 26 may swivel in elevation on the rod 29. lt is also preferable to form the hole 34 in the plate 30 large enough to permit a certain amount of sidewise swiveling movement of the rod 29. If desired, a further hinged joint may be providedV with the pin, therein extending in a horizontal direction in order to afford such sidewise movement.

It will vbe apparent that forward pressure on the rod 29 will force the wedge 27 into thecavity formed by the recessesV 19" andl 20 to spread the portions 12 and 13 into engagement with the shoe upper Q Coupled to the bottom of the toe pieces is a sole former 35 (Figure l2) fitting in the shoe. Depending upon the use thereof, the sole former 35 may be constructed from a relatively thick plate ofV a stiif and rigid metal or from a relatively exible plastic. Thus, Vin the event a custom shoe is to be manufactured, the sole former 3S will be formed rigidly with the desired contour of the finished sole. On' the other hand, if the sole former 35 is merely employed to join the toe and heel pieces of the last, it may be formed from a Yexible material. A transverse slot 36 and a longitudinal slot 37 are formed in the toe and heel portions'of the former 35, respectively, and receive screws 38,` 39'and 40, respectively, for joining the former 35 to the last. The slots v36 and 37 facilitate last size adjustn'lents'.Y

Turning next to the heely or counter piece of the combination last according to the present invention, two separate portions 41 andy 42, movable with respect Vto each other in a manner to be described hereinafter; are coupled together to form Athe counter piece of the combination last. The lowerand rear portion 41 is formed to have the same general contour as the heel of a normal foot. The bottom of the portion 41 is substantially flat, the llotom edge being rounded to conform to a normal ee of points 41a to aid in securing the heel piece to the shoe upper 10. It will be Vunderstood that similar elements such as a piece yof coarse sandpaper may be employed in placeV of the points 41a.Y A longitudinally extending opening 43 Vcommunicates with a chamber 44 hollowed out of the portion 41. The chamber 44 hasY a substantially semi-circularrconfiguration and extends from the, upper edgeof the opening 43V to the top of a somewhat extended section 45 on the lower front portion of the portion 41. Formed in the lower door of the chamber 44 are a plurality of holes 46 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The portion 41 extends upwardly a desireddistance and carries a slightly curved flat arm 4S in a. slot 49, the arm 48 being mountedrby a pin S0.

The portion 42 is constructed with a rearwardly extending semi-circular segment 51 having the same configuration l'as the interior vsurface'of the chamber 44 and adapted vto be received therein as shown in Figure 4. Re- Y On the rear of the portion 41 are found a pairV ferring to Figure 4A, the portion 42 extending downwardly from the arm 48 is formed with an abrupt bend 52 and rubber bumpers 53 are fastened to the rear edge thereof. The upper section of the portion 42 has a slot formed therein that receives the arm 48. A set screw 54o is provided in one wall of the slot 54 for locking the arm 43 in any predetermined position. Continuing upwardly, threads 55 are carried bythe portion 42 and receive a threaded assembly 56 carrying a ball 57.

Continuing the description of the portion 42, a pin extends from the lower surface of the segment 51 and is received by one of the holes 46. Extending through the portion 42 is a passageway 58a and mounted therein Y is a tube 59 adapted to receive the rod 29 that is joined to the toe piece.

The cooperation of the portions 41 and 42 of the heel piece is readily apparent from Figures 4 and 4A, the segment 51 fitting into the Chamber 44, the arm 43 fitting into the slot 54 and the pin 58 entering one of the holes 46. With this relation, the portion 42 may be pivoted on the pin 53 to be displaced from the portion 41 as shown in Figure 4A. It will be understood that the angie that the tube 59 and consequently the rod 29 makes with the heel piece will be determined by the hole 46 the pin 53 enters.

Considering the Vcooperation of the toe and counter pieces of the combination last, the rod 29 is threaded and inserted in the tube 59 with a knurled nut 6l) positioned thereon in front of the counter piece. A bifurcated tongue 61 having upwardly extending arms 62 and 63 is attached to the sole former 35 in any convenient manner such as by a rivet 64 which permits the tongue 61 to swivel thereon. Alternatively, the tongue 61 may be fastened to the former 35 by a pair of rivets or by other means such as welding to prevent any movement therebetween. Y

The arms 62 and e3 of the tongue 61 extend upwardly between the portions 41 and 42 of the counter piece as is clearly shown in Figure 4A and are locked in position when the portions 41 and 42 are drawn together at their upper ends and the set screw 54A tightened against the arm 4S. The rubber bumpers 53 aid in retaining the tongue 61 in the counter piece. By this means, the entire last assembly is unitized and the nut 6), which is employed to stretch the shoe by elongating the last, may be further operated to place the shoe in nal tension.

The ball 57 is designed to be supported in a socket V57a which includes a pair of arms 157 and 158 separated by a slot 159 and disposed on the end of a rod 169. The rod 16) is provided with a tapered thread 161 which cooperates -with a lock handle 162 to clamp the ball 57 between the arms 157 and 158. The ballV and socket support holds the shoe in a preferably inverted position while it is being constructed or repaired. Such a mounting permits the shoe to be moved to any desired attitude and this is particularly important in molding shoe bottoms where the mold is formed directly on the bottom- The foregoing may be accomplished by adjusting thek heel piece in the shoe so that the arm 48 is clamped at its free end instead of with the pieces 41 and 42 abutting each other. Accordingly, after the sole has been poured and the heel is to be poured, the screw 54a is loosened and the pieces 41 and 42 pushed together and held in Ythat position by the screw 54a, this action resulting in the portion 41 carrying the shoe upper 1G to its new position duc to the gripping action of the points 41a. This V4results in the shoe heel being angularly positioned with respect to the shoe sole. Obviously, this could not be accomplished if the sole former 35 was of rigid material but only if the former 35 were relatively exible. For best results to be obtained in such tilting action, it is preferable to provide a junction between the rod 29 and the wedge 27 that permits only slight movement in elevation of the rod 29. Thus, the junction shown in Figure l could be rotated 90 degrees and the hole 34 in the plate 30 could be snugly fitted to the pin 31. The toe and heel pieces are preferably molded from plastic or cast from various metals. Obviously, these pieces may bevformed in any other desired manner.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a modified form of 'heel or counter piece constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated. This heel piece is formed of two portions, a rear portion 65 and a front portion 66 which cooperate in a fashion which will be discussed hereinafter. The rear portion 65 is generally in the shape'of a heel with a at bottom and has points 68 protruding from the lower section 67. The front face of the section 67 is curved in order to receive a tongue such as the tongue 61 described in connection with Figure l. Extending upwardly from a slot-like opening in the section 67 is an elongated loop member 69 carrying a curved rod 70 by means of a bolt and nut arrangement 71 through an eye 72 thereon. A U-shaped bracket 73 is mounted on the bottom forward end of the portion 67 and extends transversely from one side thereof to the other with the vertical legs having holes formed therein to receive a pin 74 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Returning to the front portion 66 of the heel piece, it is shaped to cooperate with the portion 65 and form the contours of a normal heel. A pair of downwardly extending pivot lugs 75 and 76 receiving the pin 74 hinge the portion 66 to the portion 65. A pair of eccentric discs 77 and 78 having holes 79 formed therein for receiving an actuating rod, are also mounted on the pin 74 to lock a tongue similar to the tongue 61 that may be employed with the heel piece. A rubber bumber 79a is formed on the rear curved portion of the portion 66 to further clamp the tongue.

Openings S and 81 are formed in the front and rear sides of the portion 66 and communicate with a generally circular chamber 82 constructed therein. A disc S3 is rotatably positioned in the chamber S2 and has a passageway 84 running diametrically therethrough. In addition, a plurality of holes 85 are formed in the edge of the disc 83, these holes cooperating with an opening 36 running transversely of the portion 66 as shown in Figure 5 and adapted to receive a pin 86a to lock the disc S3 in a predetermined position.

A bar 87 extends vertically from the portion 66 and an opening 87a is formed therein to permit the arm 70 to pass therethrough. A lock screw 87b is mounted in the rod S7 to lock the arm 70 in a desired position. Formed on the upper end of the rod 86 is a ball 88 adapted to be received in a socket as described in connection with the ball 57 shown in Figure 4.

The cooperation of the portions 65 and 66 will be readily apparent fromy Figures and 6. Thus, they are hinged on the pin 74 to permit the heel of the shoe to be tilted with respect to the sole. Further, the disc 83 may be suitably adjusted to receive the rod 29 (Figure l) at the proper angle depending on the size and style of the shoe being lasted.

A further modied heel piece according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 8A. The construction of this heel piece is yin many respects similar to that of the heel piece shown in Figures 5 and 6. The heel piece consists of a single portion 89 shaped to the general contour of a heel and provided with points 90 on the lower rear thereof. Openings 91 and 92 are formed therein and communicate with a generally circular chamber 93 centrally positioned transversely of the portion 89 and carrying a disc 94 therein. vExtending diamet rically through the disc 94 is an opening 95 receiving a rod 96 having screw threads `formed thereon and mounting a head 96a on one end thereof. A nut 97 positioned on the forward portion of the passage 95 cooperates with the rod 96 so that rotation thereof will cause'the rod to move through the disc 94. Holes 98 are also found in the disc 94, these holes cooperating with holes 99 and 100 extending transversely through the portion 89 for receiving a pin 101 to position the disc 94 in a desired attitude.

A threaded opening 102 communicating with the chamber 93 is formed in the upper section of the portion 89. A threaded rod 103 cooperates with the opening 102 and carries a ball head 104 on a bar 105 secured in the hollow rod 103 by a pin 106. It is apparent that the disc 94 may be locked by either the pin 101 or the rod 103.

In the operation of the heel piece illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the rod 96 must be coupled by a ball joint as shown in Figure 8A to the toe piece to permit rotation thereof. Thus, a ball 96a is attached to the end of the rod 96 and journaled between a concave plate 96h and a plate 96e joined by rivets 96d to the Wedge 27.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9, lO and 1l, this embodiment being better adapted for use as a shoe tree than as a last. However, it will be understood that the modifications described above may also be employed as shoe trees as well as shoe lasts.

A toe piece 107 is formed to the contours of the toe and instep of a normal foot and is shown as a single piece in this embodiment. However, it will be understood that the toe piece illustrated in Figure l as well as other similar toe pieces may be employed in place of the toe piece 107. In fact, if the tree is not designed for a particular type or size shoe, it is preferable to employ the toe piece shown in Figure l.

A recess 108 is formed in the rear portion of the piece 107 and communicates with a transverse passageway 109. A threaded rod 110 is positioned in the recess 108 and provided with a lug 111 on the end thereof which receives a pin 112 carried by the passage 109 to support the rod 110 on the piece 107.

Examining the heel or counter piece in detail, it is constructed from a rear portion 113 and a front portion 114 cooperating to form generally the contours of a normal heel. The portion 113 has a substantially at bottom although it may be slightly convex, and the front face thereof -is inwardly curved to receive the portion 114 as will be described hereinafter. Extending upwardly from the portion 113 is an elongated loop 115 provided with holes 116 spaced thereon and adapted to receive a pin 117.

The front portion 114 of the heel piece is provided with a passage 118 extending therethrough and having a tube 119 mounting a ball 119a on its end and adapted to receive the rod 110. The rear face of the portion 114 is curved to abut the forward face of the portion 113 and has formed thereon rubber bumpers 120a. The lower section of the portion 114 is slotted to provide a plurality of lugs 120 to 123, inclusive, which have aligned openings formed therein to receive a pin 124. A U-shaped bracket is mounted on the lower forward section of the portion 113 with its vertical plates extending upwardly between the lugs 120, 121 and 122, 123, respectively. These plates are provided with holes through which the pin 124 passes. The resulting hinge permits the portion 114 to swivel about the pin 124.

A sole plate 127 is axed to the toe piece 107 by bolts 12S and 129 and has a tongue 130 joined thereto by a rivet 131 in a manner similar to the connection of the former 35 and the tongue 61. The tongue 130 extends between the curved surfaces of the portions 113 and 114 and is clamped by swiveling the portion 114 on the pin 124 to cause the rubber bumpers 120a to engage the -plate 127: andtheftongue 13). Y

-fconverse-v offthis is`V also true. advantages'obtained'bythe invention is the variable angle itongueiat.y Thus, the vtoe and-heel portionsof the last aarezeornbined in onev unitary lstructureby means of -the -rThez'zpir-'117 cooperatesw'iththe ll'olesfl-lato fasten *theftubez 1t9 in'any-positio'nr desired, thefusual position beingf-withthe *rubber*bumpers.3129er snugly against the fportion 1:13. Y i It shouldrbe'understood thatthe rodz129'a11dthe tube f' 591Y illustrated -in'Figrires-` l: :to 4A-n1ayfbe cut offv ush withf-the portion 1in order that the-last may be employed in high shoes or boots. This is also true in the other .modifications of'` the invention.

' Of-ffcoursegtthe various-heel' pieces disclosed rnay be employed-fin'combinationwvith other-toe pieces'and the One of` thev significant permitted between"thetoeand'the heel pieces to permit -the last tof'bea ':cornrnod'atedv to `various-type shoes'and 'for castingplastic soles'thereon. Furthermore the corn bination' last' facilitates- 'the :separation: of' the Vheel and toe'pieces andfthe Substitutio'nof other'units vin order to producecustom shoes that may be closely tted to a particular individual. 1

`-:By supporting; the last and shoeri'n a'ball socket joint,

-the-process of castingfplas'tic soles: on shoes is'considerfably vsimplified sincetthe shoe may betilted'in all direc- "tions" in ordertoformthicker" portions :on the sole or heel. This isV particularly useful; in producingforthopedic shoes. In connection with such special purpose shoes,V it

vwillfbenoted that the heelpiece: may be-'not only tilted angularly'Y-with respect to the' toefpiece but may also be 'l rotated iwi'tharespec'zt` to the 'toe' piecegtheV points'Aa 'gripping and carrying'theheel portion'of the shoe. With the1heel cast on'inthis'm'annergone side will be higher "than lthe other Vto provide the necessary' orthopedic It will be understood thattheaboveldescribedernbodit mentsbf the invention are 'illustrative oniyv andI modifica- 'ti'o'ns thereof vwill'occurftothose skilledin 'the art. For example, the'tsole former' and'v tongue olas well as ,-thesoleA plate'127r and tongue 130 may be' omitted if i-desired: `ln'addition;variousf-ieatures of oneV of theheel pieces may be incorporated in the'other heel pieces. Thusjthesupport ball 56 in Figure 4 maybe placed on the end ofthe tube 59 as shown in Figure l10.` Therefore, the invention is not to'be limited tothe speciiicapparatus :disclosed herein'but is -to be dened bythe .appended claims.

I. claim: v

l. inashoe shaping device,-a toepiece comprising two portions laterallynovablewith respect to each other, Yone oftheportionghaving a unitaryv contouredA segment extending over the other portion and forming a rn'ajor part `of"theupperf'surtace of thel toepiece, -said unitary 'contoured .segment ftormedto engage 'and shapeithe instep of 'a.^sh'oe,A a-rst'ho'rizontally oriented sur-face onthe 'lowerside of Ithe 'contoured lsegment which' extends over -the other portion, a second horizontally oriented surface oii-theuppe'rsideV of the' other portion beloafsaid contouredsegnrenh the second'suria'ce' positioned to abut "tha-first' surfaceand'preclude downward vertical displacement of the "iirst' portion and upward vertical ivdisplacen'ient of the 'second portion, and means coupling arearwardly extending rod to the toe piece, said means responsive to forward pressure on the rod for urging the portions laterally' apart.

2.' A shoe shaping device comprising a heelpiece including front and rear relatively movable portions, rcooperating openings in the portions, a rod adjustably mounted in .said openings and supported by the opening in the front portion, the front portion being movable with respect to the rear portion for varying the` angular relantion betweenrthe' rear portion and the rod, rneans-for locking the rear portion in position with respect to they Cil ` portion are relatively movable to provide a channel thererod, :a toe' -piecef-coupled to the. end oi the;y `rod remote tfromgthe. heelf piece, theftoe piece including at;y least two portions' laterally movable i with r e spect. to:ieach A other, oneof Vthe portionsfhavinga afunitaryr contouredasection extending over the .otherV of `said portions@ and adapted 'to engage and*shapefasubstantialsection of ,theinstep yof a shoe, arstfhorizontally'oriented-fsurfaceton the lower side of the contoured-'Section 'which' Aextends overthe other p ortion,: anda second horizontally oriented surface on the-upper. sidefof the other .portion .wunder sai-d contoured section, *the second-surface being positioned -to abut theA -rstsurface .to preclude ,downward ydisplacement of the r'st portionandupward verticaldisplacementof vthe secondj portion,- the .coupling of Vthe rod.A to. the; toe piece including means responsive to forward-pressure on the rod for urging the toe portionslaterally apart.- f

3. ln a shoe shaping device, a heel piece .comprising front:` and rear yrelatively movable zportions; cooperating 'openings in the portions foritadjustably receiving afrod extending toa toc piece, the opening inthe front portion supporting: the rod, adjusting-a elements vcarriedsby the front portion for initiallysetting the rear portion at one of a plurality: offangularly related positionswithv respect tothe rod, ,lthefront portionnpivotedv on .fthe rear portion f below said ,openingsV andmovablefwith' respect7 to -fthe rear portion for further vary-ing the angularrelationbetween the rear Aportiomandthefrod, -a ffrontufacenv the rear portionand;a -rear-face Qn-the'front portionforming a channel Vtherebetween, of-fa vsize determined =by the further variations in the, angular relation between the rear portion andthe-rod, -sailchannel-formed to receiveea tongue fromz afsole; former,-.and rstmeanslocking the rear portion against saidfturther variations `with respect to the rod. l' Y V4, Apparatus as denedff-in claim-3 in/whichsaidadjusting elements'include a rotatableelernent carried inthe openingsingthe trontportion, anfopeningzin fthe rotatable element cooperating with theiopeningfin the `rear portion for adjustably receivinggthe rodfthe opening lin tl'ie rotat- -able'element supporting the rod, said adjusting elements includingsecond -rneansv locking therotatable element-fin position, the rotatable element initially/setting theangular relation .between-the heel pieceiand the rod.

5. Apparatusv as :dened in claim .4'whereinj-the irst 'locking means comprises upwardly extending sections on the front and rear portions, an= arm fastened to'one/of the-upwardlyextending sections andaslidably extending through the other section, and means lockingthe :arm to saidl othersection. Y f

6. Ina shoefshaping device, afheelpiececomprising front and rear relatively movable portions, Y vcooperating openings in the portions adaptedfto adiustably receive `a rod coupledeto a toe piece, the lopeningin thef-frontportion supportingthe rod, the front and rear portions being Jselectively pivoted withrespect to each other .0n one 0f a plurality ofpivot points, and means, forlocking the rear portionin positionwith respect to; the rod.

7. Apparatusas detinedzinclaim 6 wherein'the locking means comprises upwardly extending sections ont the frontend rear portions,an arrnvefastened to one ofe the upwardly 4,extending sectionsand slidably extending through'the other Asection, and Vmeans for selectively Vlockingthe .arm'ato the-othersection. K

8.-Apparatus as detined in clainro whereinthe front tace. Ofatherearportionfand ythe rear face of the. front betweenadapted to receive therebetween a tongue from asole former.

. References Cited in the tile' of this patent UNITED,` STATES' PATENTS 772,351 will Y Dec. 17, 1.1867 285,649 Nethercut ,Srept.A 25, 1883 497,505 w Sum-mer. v a r,a May .16, V1893 (Other references Von: following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Thompson June 22, 1897 Petrillo July 31, 1906 Cavanagh Jan. 8, 1907 Latta Oct. 29, 1907 McGann Nov. 30, 1909 Wood Apr. 22, 1919 Denten Apr. 17, 1923 McMonagle Sept. 30, 1924 Carter June 19, 1928 Olson Aug. 8, 1933 10 Palladino Dec. 31, 1935 Panos Feb. 2, 1937 Loewer May 29, 1945 Doherty July 3, 1951 Haubert Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 30, 1894 Great Britain July 4, 1895 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1922 Germany Sept. 6, 1930 Switzerland May 31, 1951 

